Why does Socialism have such a bad rap, that it’s some sort of dangerous foreign import? We are all social by nature, tribal even, collectively espousing to a business, a church, a union, an environmental cause, a sports team, you name it. As we grow and mature as designers, as marketers, as humans, the most fulfilling reward is bringing people together and providing solutions for the greater good.
At a time when there is the largest disparity of wealth in America since the “roaring twenties” (hint), at a time when there are more and more families without shelter, at a time when many citizens lack basic healthcare needs, there comes the realization that we need to be more public than private, as we yearn to come together to explore the issues through dialogue and ideas. There is power in the “social” structure, where we share our concerns, as individuals and as a society. When we enact cohesive thoughts and ideas, when we help others, our awareness grows, ideas are fostered, and change occurs.
Our institutions, our public sector are in need of design skills if we are to stand a reasonable chance of reshaping who we are as a society. Design for the public good. Our challenge today, both politically and socially, lies in our ability to explore new ideas and uncharted paths, instead of trying to improve existing ones. New frameworks, new designs have associated risks, but doing nothing is arguably far riskier. It’s time we collectively, even socialistically come together. Design not for the one-tenth of one percent, but for all of us. It’s time to honor our compassion for all things, as neighbors, as a community, as a society, for the public good.
